how can fire be different temperature?

Question

how can fire be different temperature?

In: Chemistry

Answer 1

Fire (as in the flames you see) is a side product of the burning process (which is the chemical reaction). Different materials can burn at different rates giving off different amounts of heat. The visible flame is also dependent on the intensity of the burning and the material. Some burning processes don’t even emit visible light (to humans at least).

For example magnesium can burn at ~3,100 °C (5,610 °F) with a bright white flame, whereas wood will start burning as “low” as ~300 °C (572 °F) with reddish-orange flames, but can reach ~1,100 °C ( 2,012 °F) with bright yellow flames.